Getting around to repair a drummed Elk ear. My own head thank god (checked with a # of my customers and no problem with theirs, whew)the hide was commercially tanned. Both ears drummed (I have a hunch I didn't trim the ear liners enough). Back then I was using locktite glue on my ears which worked ok on my deer ears that were correctly sized (shortly there after switched to 5min epoxy and like that system better) - but I still have a hunch I didn't size the earline correctly. My question is - should I rehydrate the area, cut off the ears - pull out the liners, replace with correct sized liners and either epoxy the ears back on the hide or sew the ears back onto the head? Does this seem like a good idea or will it be difficult to hide the cut?
Return to Gamehead Taxidermy Category Menu
Soak several paper towels with warm water and stuff it inside the ear (or on the surface of the inner ear) and wrap with plastic freezer wrap. After two days, remove. Have some Epo-Grip Injectable ready and insert the syringe into the ear cavity and inject them. Quickly press the inner ear hide back against the liner. No Stuff the inner ear with DRY paper towels and wrap with plastic wrap. The towels will hold the hide against the liner and the plastic will act as a clamp. Should eliminate your problem.
I had to do this last weak. Wet the ear down for a couple of days,I never use hot or warm water it acelerates the growth of bacteria, I even put a cap full of lysol in my spray bottle to help plevent this. Once ear is soft enough to work I cut the ear down the bottom side where the two come together, pull ear back and trim liner to desired size, reapoxy and sew back up.
Hope this helps. Dustin